Union County, NC Property Records: Search Deeds, Owners, Tax Records, and Maps

Union County's rising property demand has been fueled not only by proximity to Charlotte but also by strong regional job growth and high median household incomes. Therefore, if you seek information about any of the county’s 115,921 parcels of land, you may find such property records with the local Register of Deeds and the local Tax Administration. Both offices are located in Monroe and hold records dating back to 1842.

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How to Look Up Union County Property Records

Union County provides free access to property records through several online portals.

Who Keeps Union County Property Records

County offices in North Carolina serve as custodians of property records, with access governed by the Public Records Act. In Union County, the responsibility for maintaining, updating, and issuing property records is shared among three offices:

• The Union County Register of Deeds records deeds, deeds of trust, plats, easements, liens, and restrictive covenants. This is the office of legal record for the chain of title. It does not perform title searches or give legal advice, which state law prohibits.

• The Union County Department of Tax Administration appraises every parcel, assigns the PIN, mails the bills, and collects payment.

• The Union County Clerk of Superior Court oversees the foreclosure process, including hearings and property auctions.

How to Search Union County Property Records Online

In Union County, property records are maintained by separate offices and each one grants access to records through several online portals. Each portal holds specific property records. Therefore, you must navigate multiple databases to obtain a comprehensive record:

1. Start with the County's Tax Office property search portal. This portal allows searches by property owner's name, address, and parcel ID. This page also shows the assessed value and property characteristics.

2. After that, look up the owner's name on the Register of Deeds remote access portal. This allows you to pull recorded deeds and deeds of trust.

3. Look at the chain of title from the most recent recorded deed. If the names do not correspond, then you've found a gap that needs further research, potentially by a tax professional.

4. Run the same index for active liens, deeds of trust, and restrictive covenants. The excise tax stamp printed on a deed also tells you roughly what the property last sold for.

5. Then, use the Union County Tax portal to view the property's tax bill and payment history. You can search records by owner's name, parcel ID, and tax year.

Register of Deeds: Deeds, Deeds of Trust, and Plats

Union County's Register of Deeds is responsible for the indexing and recording of property documents. The office also maintains a property records database and produces certified copies on request.

Document types recorded include:

• Warranty deeds, special warranty deeds, and quitclaim deeds

• Deeds of trust, releases, assignments, and modifications

• Judgment liens, mechanic's liens, and state and federal tax liens

• Easements, restrictive covenants, and powers of attorney

• Subdivision plats, condominium plats, and highway maps

Tax Assessor: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The County's Tax Administration is responsible for appraising every parcel in Union County. North Carolina law requires each county to complete a property reappraisal at least once every eight years. This will ensure that assessments reflect market value at the time of the reappraisal and that taxation is fair and equitable for each of its citizens. You can use the office's property search portal to find:

• The current legal owner of any parcel

• The PIN and real estate ID (the master IDs across county systems)

• Assessed value, land value, and building value

• Property characteristics such as square footage, year built, and lot size

• Any active homestead, disability, or veteran exclusion

Tax Collector: Tax Bills and Payments

The same office is responsible for assessing and collecting all real and personal property taxes for Union County. Union County taxes are due on September 1st, and must be paid on or before January 5th. If January 5th falls on the weekend, taxes are due the following Monday. Failure to pay after January 5th leads to a 2% interest on your tax bill for the month of January and an additional 0.75% each month.

Property Tax in Union County: Rates, Exemptions, and Appeals

In Union County, property tax is calculated by multiplying the property’s assessed value by the tax rate set each year by local officials.

Homestead and relief programs

North Carolina offers three statutory relief programs, and an owner may take only one. Each is filed with the county on Form AV-9 by June 1.

Appealing your value

If you feel your assessed value is inconsistent with similar properties in your area, you may download, complete, and mail an appeal form to the Tax Administration's Office. The office recommends filing your appeal within 30 days of receiving your new property values. This enables the office to review your case before it moves to the Board of Equalization and Review. If your appeal is denied, you can report the issue to the North Carolina Property Tax Commission.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

The Union County Atlas allows you to look up specific parcel IDs, boundaries, and ownership details directly. For data that crosses county lines, the state runs NC OneMap.

Layers available include:

• Subdivision, lot, and block information

• Aerial imagery, updated on a regular cycle

• Zoning, jurisdiction, and voting-district boundaries

• FEMA flood zones and soil layers

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

There are two main processes you’ll see when researching foreclosure in Union County.

Power-of-sale foreclosure

This type of foreclosure is executed by the trustee named in the deed of trust. The case goes before the Clerk of Superior Court, and the sale happens at the courthouse. After the auction, there is a 10‑day upset‑bid period, which allows anyone to submit a higher bid. This means that the first winning bid is not final.

Property-tax foreclosure

The Union County government can pass a judgment against your property for delinquent taxes and proceed with a tax sale of the property. This is known as the in-rem process and is executed by the county Sheriff’s Office.

Costs to Access Property Records

Searching online is free. Fees apply when you need a copy or are recording a new document.

Recording fees are set by NCGS 161-10, and the excise tax is set by NCGS 105-228.30. Confirm the current schedule with the Register of Deeds before filing.

How to Record a Document

The rules governing the recording of any document that transfers an interest in real property are set out in NCGS Chapter 47. The process generally includes these four steps:

1. Confirm the document meets North Carolina format rules: original signatures, a notary acknowledgment, legible margins, and the required first-page reference to the grantee's address.

2. Calculate recording fees. Recording costs $26 for the first 15 pages and $4 for each additional page. Deeds also require payment of the excise tax, which is $1 per $500 of the purchase price.

3. Submit documents to the Register of Deeds Office. You can file the document in person, by mail, or through an approved e‑recording vendor. Checks should be made payable to the Union County Register of Deeds.

4. Once the document is recorded, the original is returned to the filer, and a digital image is added to the online index.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Union County Property Records Checklist

Match each row to your task to find the fastest path through the system.

Key Contacts and Official Portals